A new study shows that reading a novel can boost your empathy and brain function "for days" at a time.

From Psychology Today: "Researchers found that becoming engrossed in a novel enhances connectivity in the brain and improves brain function. Interestingly, reading fiction was found to improve the reader's ability to put themselves in another person’s shoes and flex the imagination in a way that is similar to the visualization of a muscle memory in sports."

When was the last time you read a great book? Read more about the research findings here.